House and Senate Appropriations Leaders on Urging Full Funding for Transit Security Grants in the FY10 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,500 member organizations, I write to call your to attention to the recent news stories regarding investigations into alleged plans to carry out terror attacks on U.S. transit facilities and systems. In light of this recent news, I urge you to fully fund the authorization of $900 million for public transportation security grants in the House-Senate Conference Report to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Department of Homeland Security and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The current investigation into possible plans to utilize improvised explosive devices in a transit environment, similar to the attacks that occurred in London and Madrid, emphasizes what we already know – that public transportation is a common target for terrorists worldwide, and that more needs to be done to ensure the security of U.S. systems and their riders. APTA has repeatedly expressed this concern in letters and testimony, and we urge Congress to fund this important program.

When the 9/11 Commission Act authorized $900 million for FY2010, Congress recognized the significant transit security needs that still exist across the industry. When the House-Senate conference committee convenes, we again urge you to support the highest level of funding possible for these critical programs.

We appreciate your support in providing financial resources for the security of our country’s public transportation infrastructure. Please have your staff contact Brian Tynan of APTA’s Government Affairs Department at (202) 496-4897 or email btynan@apta.com, if you have any questions about this matter or if we can provide any further information.